Clematis plant named ‘UNAI 003’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Clematis  cultivar named ‘UNAI 003’ is disclosed, characterized by good resistance to normal diseases and pests of  Clematis , continuous flowering from May through September, with flower buds continuously produced from the leaf axils and a unique tepal undulation. Plants are exceptionally floriferous and compact, making them especially well suited for container production. The new cultivar is a  Clematis , suitable for ornamental garden purposes.

Latin name of the genus and species: Clematis jackmanii.

Variety denomination: ‘UNAI 003’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor that began in 1978. The objective of the breeding program was to develop Clematis jackmanii varieties with abundant, continuous, long season flowering, with a good resistance to diseases and pests typical of Clematis. In 1982 the inventor, Aili Kivistik a citizen of Estonia, organized a group of unnamed, unpatented Clematis jackmanii varieties for an open pollination breeding project. Seeds originating from this open pollination were planted out, and the new variety was selected in 1986. Specific parents of the new variety are unknown, as the seed was bulk collected, without noting the variety collected from. All work was conducted at a non-commercial nursery in Roogoja, Estonia.

In 1988 the inventor first propagated ‘UNAI 003’ by vegetative cuttings at the same non-commercial nursery in Roogoja, Estonia. Subsequent generations have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘UNAI 003’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘UNAI 003’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘UNAI 003’ as a new and distinct Clematis cultivar:

-   -   1. Good resistance to diseases and pests common to Clematis.     -   2. Continuous flowering from May through September.     -   3. Very floriferous plants.     -   4. Flower buds produced continuously from the leaf axils.     -   5. Unique tepal aspect with undulation producing a ruffled         effect.     -   6. Compact plant habit especially well suited for container         production.

COMPARISON TO KNOWN VARIETIES

Plants of the new cultivar ‘UNAI 003’ are similar to known forms of Clematis jackmanii in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘UNAI 003’ produce flowers with larger, and more tepals than common forms of Clematis jackmanii known to the inventor. Additionally, plants of ‘UNAI 003’ flower continuously from May through September, whereas many known forms of Clematis jackmanii flower reliably 2 months only. The new variety also produces undulating tepals not typical of known Clematis jackmanii varieties.

The new cultivar ‘UNAI 003’ can also be compared to the known variety Clematis jackmanii ‘Superba’. Plants are similar in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar produces flowers with 6 to 7 tepals, compared to 4 tepals on Clematis jackmanii ‘Superba’. Additionally the new cultivar begins blooming one month earlier, and have a different tepal color.

The new cultivar ‘UNAI 003’ can also be compared to the known variety Clematis jackmanii ‘Tie Dye’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,913. Plants are similar in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar produces flowers that are larger, with more tepals, of a different color. Additionally the new cultivar begins blooming one month earlier, and flowers one month later than ‘Tie Dye’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical flowering plant of ‘UNAI 003’ grown outdoors in Estonia. The plant is less than one year old. The photographs was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2001 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘UNAI 003’ plants grown outdoors in Roogoja, Estonia. Plants are approximately 1 year old, in a 1 liter nursery container. The growing conditions are outdoors and unshaded. Temperatures ranged from approximately −2° C. to 20° C. at night to 5° C. to 35° C. during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Clematis jackmanii ‘UNAI 003’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting:     -   -   Initiation.—Approximately 40 days in the Summer at             approximately 25° C.         -   Rooted cuttings production.—Approximately 40 days in the             Summer at approximately 25° C. -   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Climbing vine. -   Height: Approximately 150 cm, measured from the soil line of the     pot. -   Plant spread: Approximately 80 cm when trained as a vine. Left     untrained, approximately 150 cm. -   Growth rate: Rapid. During active growing season in Spring,     approximately 70 cm per month. -   Branching characteristics: Very well branched, one main branch with     at least 10 lateral branches. -   Length of main stem: Approximately 150 cm. -   Diameter of main stem: Approximately 0.2 to 0.5 cm. -   Main stem color: Near RHS Brown 200B. -   Main stem texture: Glabrous. -   Internode length: Approximately 10 cm. -   Strength: Strong, flexible, semi-woody.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Type.—Ternate leaves arranged opposite.         -   Description ternate leaves.—Average Length: Approximately             12 cm. Average Width: Approximately 9 cm. Leaflet Petiole:             Average Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Color: Near RHS Green             136A. Diameter: Approximately 0.2 cm. Texture: Glabrous.         -   Leaflets.—Leaves per lateral Branch: Approximately 48             leaflets. Average Length: Approximately 5 cm. Average Width:             Approximately 3 cm. Shape of blade: Heart shaped. Apex:             Acute. Base: Cordate. Attachment: Petioled. Margin: Entire.             Texture of top surface: Smooth. Texture of bottom surface:             Smooth. Leaf internode length: Approximately 1.5 cm.             Resistance to stress and breakage: Very resistant to             environmental and mechanical stress. Color: Young foliage             upper side: Near RHS Green 136C. Young foliage under side:             Near RHS Green 137D. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS             Green 136A. Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Green 137C.             Venation: Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS             Green 136A. Venation color under side: Near RHS Green 137C.             Petiole: Average Length: Approximately 6 cm. Color: Near RHS             Green 136A. Diameter: Approximately 0.2 to 0.3 cm. Texture:             Glabrous.             Tendrils not present.

FLOWER

-   Bloom period:     -   -   Natural Season.—Continuously from approximately May through             September. -   Flower type and habit: Solitary axillary; flowers facing outward. -   Flower longevity on plant: Approximately 5 days, after fully opened.     Self-cleaning. -   Quantity of flowers: Very free, continuous flowering. Mature plants     have at least 50 open flowers during the flowering season. -   Flower size:     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 10 cm.         -   Depth.—Approximately 1 cm. -   Corolla:     -   -   Tepal arrangement.—Single overlapping whorl.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 6 to 7 per flower.         -   Size.—Length: Approximately 7 cm. Width: Approximately 5 cm.         -   Shape.—Deltoid.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Aspect.—Slightly concave, irregular undulation throughout             tepal blade.         -   Texture.—Smooth, velvety. -   Color:     -   -   Tepals.—When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS Violet-Blue             90A with central bar near Red-Purple 71A. Lower surface:             Near RHS Violet-Blue 90D with central bar near White 155A.         -   Fully opened.—Upper surface: Near RHS Violet-Blue 90B with             central bar near Red-Purple 71A. Lower surface: Near RHS             Violet-Blue 90D with central bar near White 155A.         -   Ageing.—Upper Surface: Near RHS Violet-Blue 90C with central             bar near White 155A. Lower surface: Near RHS Violet-Blue 90D             with central bar near White 155A. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Length.—Approximately 2-3 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 1 cm.         -   Color.—Mainly Near RHS Grey-Green 196D. -   Peduncles:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 6 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Angle.—Average 45°.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Color.—Near RHS Green 138A. -   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—Approximately 60 per flower.         -   Anther length.—0.4 cm.         -   Anther color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 149D.         -   Anther shape.—Oblong.         -   Pollen quantity.—Moderate.         -   Pollen color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 149C.         -   Filament length.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Filament aspect.—Straight to slightly outwardly curved.         -   Filament color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 150D. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—Approximately 30 per flower.         -   Length.—Approximately 0.2 to 0.3 cm.         -   Style color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 149D.         -   Style length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Linear. Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 149C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds: Per flower, typically 30 round seeds, approximately 0.15     diameter. Colored near RHS Green 137B. -   Disease/pest resistance: Very good resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Clematis have been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Observed to tolerate temperatures from     approximately −5° C. to at least 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Clematis plant named ‘UNAI 003’ as herein illustrated and described. 